KIBO Tech Finance Guarantees
Provides collateral-light access to bank financing in Korea through technology-based credit guarantees for innovative startups and small businesses.
KIBO Tech Finance Guarantees refers to the technology credit guarantee services of the Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KIBO, also known as KOTEC), a quasi-governmental institution established in 1989 under the supervision of the Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups. KIBO's core product is the technology credit guarantee, which enables technology-capable but collateral-constrained Korean SMEs and startups to access bank financing by substituting KIBO's state-backed guarantee for conventional collateral. Guarantee decisions are made through KIBO's proprietary Kibo Technology Rating System (KTRS), which evaluates technological competency, marketability, and commercial viability rather than asset values.
Guarantee coverage can reach 100% of the loan principal, with per-company limits ranging from approximately KRW 100 million to KRW 10 billion (roughly USD 73,000 to USD 7.3 million in representative terms). A specialised product — the Guarantee with Investment Option — allows KIBO to convert the guaranteed loan into equity before maturity, available to tech startups within their first five years at a fixed guarantee fee of 0.5% and a maximum of KRW 1 billion per company. Eligible borrowers are for-profit Korean SMEs with sufficient technology ratings; non-profits, universities, and research organisations may also access certain programmes. Sectors such as low-end manufacturing, general construction, and wholesale distribution are excluded by statute.
Organisations seeking KIBO guarantees should prepare thorough technology documentation suitable for KTRS assessment, as the quality and commercialisation readiness of the underlying technology is the primary evaluation criterion. The Baby Unicorn programme, executed through KIBO by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, adds market-development funding of up to KRW 300 million alongside guarantee support for high-potential scale-up candidates.
Provides state-backed technology credit guarantees enabling Korean tech SMEs to access bank financing based on technology assessment rather than collateral, with guarantee coverage up to 100% of loan principal.
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